The effects of 10 weeks of β-alanine supplementation on peak power, power drop, and lactate response in Korean national team boxers

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of β-alanine (BA) supplementation on peak power, power drop, and lactate response in elite male amateur boxers. Nineteen male Korean national team boxers were divided into groups with either BA (n=9) or placebo (PL, n=10) supplementation. BA consumed 4.9-5.4 g/day of BA with training for 10 weeks and PL took PL in a similar manner. Physical fitness and lactate changes in sparring were measured before and after the 10-week intervention. Significant interactions (<i>P</i><0.05) were shown for lower body peak power (<i>P</i>=0.049) and upper body power drop (<i>P</i>=0.042). Positive effects for the BA group were shown for lower body peak power (Cohen <i>d</i>=0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-1.35) and the maintenance of upper body power output (<i>d</i>=-0.91; 95% CI, -1.61 to -0.17). These findings suggest that Korean national amateur boxers who consumed BA demonstrated differential responses following a training intervention in specific physical fitness when compared to boxing athletes who consumed a PL.